Texas Border Teacher and Government Contractor Snared in Prostitution Sting with 16-year-old Girl

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — A teacher at an elementary school near this Texas town is one of four men behind bars on charges of luring a 16-year-old girl into a life of prostitution and drug dealing with social media.

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As a result of an investigation by Brownsville police, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, and the Homeland Security Investigations Office of Professional Responsibility, 36-year-old Javier Gaona, 31-year-old Ervin Martinez, 34-year-old Eduardo Padron, and 25-year-old Eduardo Ramirez have been arrested, according to information provided to Breitbart Texas by the Brownsville Police Department. Gaona is believed to have met the girl through social media, luring her a room at a local hotel where she was forced to engage in prostitution and drug dealing.

Padron is listed in the Brownsville Independent School District website as a 3rd grade teacher at Cromack Elementary. District Spokeswoman Dru Brown told Breitbart Texas that BISD police officers assisted in serving the warrant for Padron. Brown said the warrant covers activities which are not linked to Padron’s teaching position, or his students at Cromack Elementary.

“U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigation and ICE’s Office of Professional Responsibility assisted Brownsville Police with the arrest of four individuals who were charged with sexually assaulting a child. One of the individuals arrested was an ICE contractor, not an ICE employee,” ICE told Breitbart Texas in a prepared statement.

According to HSI information provided to Breitbart Texas, the government contractor is not accused of conducting illicit activities during his work hours – his charges concern activities that took place while he was off-duty.

Ervin Martinez, another of the men arrested in the case, is listed as a sexual offender by the Texas Department of Public Safety, due to a May 2006 conviction for the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl.

Authorities charged Gaona with compelling prostitution, and the other men with sexual assault of a child. All four men went before a Brownsville municipal judge for their arraignment hearing, and were then taken to the Cameron County Jail.